Daniel had spent the evening in Teal'c's quarters. He hadn't slept much, and he knew Teal'c hadn't, either, but it was a good place to be out of the way, and yet still be close enough that he could come running in the event that something happened. Nothing had. Sometime around 7:00, Teal'c had entered Kelnoreem, and Daniel had decided to go for a walk. A walk that put him outside the infirmary.

He entered hesitantly, looking around for Janet – who'd probably kick him out, but would at least give him an update on whatever was going on. She wasn't anywhere in sight, and when Daniel peeked into her office, he found Sam sleeping on a cot in the corner that Daniel knew Janet used frequently when things were so hectic that she couldn't go home. Carter was sleeping restlessly, but Daniel didn't wake her up. She probably had been up late, sitting with Jack, and she needed her rest. He turned and headed for the little room off to the side, figuring if Janet wasn't there, and no one else was, either, he'd pop in and see how Jack looked.

There wasn't anyone there, just the lone figure sleeping on the bed – although Jack turned his head when Daniel opened the door, so he wasn't sleeping. The room was dimly lit because Jack's eyes were sensitive to light, but Daniel could see clearly that his friend was very ill, and getting worse.

"Hey, Jack..." He closed the door and walked over, hesitantly, expecting someone to come kick him out at any moment.

"Daniel."

"How do you feel?"

"Ducky."

Jack was whispering. Daniel wondered if his voice was gone, or if it just hurt Jack to talk and he was getting around that by not using his vocal cords as much.

"You look..."

Jack sighed.

"... like shit..."

"I feel like shit," O'Neill told him, a partial smile coming to his face. At least Daniel hadn't said he was looking better. Jack knew he didn't look better.

"What are these things?" Daniel asked, running his hand along the icepacks that were placed on either side of Jack's neck. They were covered in towels, so he couldn't really tell, until he touched them. Then he realized how cold they were. He frowned.

"Ice packs. To cool off my fever, they tell me."

"Is it working?"

Jack shrugged.

"It's cold."

"Are you still fevered?"

"Do I like a doctor?"

"Do you feel hot?"

He looked cold.

"I feel..." Jack trailed off, and shrugged again. "No. I'm cold. But every now and then I feel warm, too, so I suppose they're necessary."

"How can you sleep like that?" Daniel knew how much Jack hated to be cold. He also understood then why there were so many blankets piled on his friend. Jack was cold, but the fever wasn't down – Daniel could see he was flushed. It had to be quite the conundrum, trying to keep him cold and warm at the same time.

"I can't."

"Ah."

Which explained why he was awake.

"Where's Carter?"

"Sleeping in Janet's office. Teal'c's in his quarters. I expect they'll both be along, eventually."

Jack nodded.

Daniel hesitated.

"Is there anything I can get you?"

He was fairly certain Jack was going to ask to be let out of bed – something Daniel obviously couldn't do – or ask for something equally impossible.

"No."

That was better than the explosion he'd expected, Daniel thought. Then he changed his mind. He'd have preferred the explosion over the look in Jack's eyes. A look he wasn't trying to hide. Jack was depressed – or maybe he'd given up – Daniel wasn't sure. Whatever it was, there was a spark missing that worried Daniel more than the flushed skin and all the wires.

"Are you okay, Jack?" Daniel had never been one to hide his concerns.

"I'm fine, Daniel."

"You look a little... um... down."

Jack shrugged. Daniel was too perceptive for Jack's comfort, because that was exactly how O'Neill had been feeling just then. Down, or depressed, or just plain sorry for himself. Yeah, sorry for himself was a good word for it. He knew part of it was that he was really tired, and when Jack got tired, he got moody. That was when everything that ever went bad started reminding him just how bad his life was. Normally, of course, Jack smothered those negative thoughts – usually under sarcasm or banter – but he couldn't summon enough energy to do it this time. And Daniel was looking worried, so Jack knew he probably wouldn't participate in banter anyways. Not that Jack hadn't tried. It'd just fizzled.

"I'm tired, that's all. And my throat hurts..."

"What'd Janet tell you?"

"What'd she tell you?" Jack asked.

"I haven't talked to her."

"She's supposed to be off resting somewhere."

"What did she tell you?"

"I'm sick."

"That's it?"

"I'm very sick..."

Daniel saw a shiver run through Jack's body, even under all the blankets. He reached over and tucked the corner of one of the blankets in under the icepacks running along O'Neill's side. Even while he did it, he recognized the futility. How was he going to be warmed by a blanket when he was tucking the icepack even closer? Jack saw the irony as well, and there was another ghost of a smile.

"It's the thought that counts, Daniel..."

"There must be a better way to keep your fever down..."

"I'm assuming there isn't." Jack was heartily tired of Daniel's mothering already, and decided to send him away without hurting his feelings.

"Would you do me a favor and bring me something to eat?"

"Sure. What?"

"Toast. And a paper, or something to read. I'm bored."

The archeologist stood up, fairly certain Jack didn't want any toast or something to read. Not in the dimly lit room, but he was willing to play along.

"I'll be right back."

"Take your time."

Yeah, that was the clue. Daniel nodded, but he didn't feel hurt by the expulsion. He knew that if Jack had wanted to be a bastard, he'd just have kicked him out – like he had earlier the day before. This way was much nicer, and it concerned Daniel far more. He must really be down to be so nice about things. Maybe Daniel would see if Sam would wake up and talk to Jack. She could cheer him up better than anyone.

He left the room, and Jack sighed as the door closed. Daniel hadn't been fooled. Jack could tell by the look of comprehension on his friend's face. Ah, well... at least he was gone. Jack looked around the empty room again.

"Yay..."